JPH081956A - Ink jet recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enhance the handling properties of an ink jet recording apparatus by preventing unreasonable load from acting on the recording apparatus by eliminating the sudden change of the insertion and pulling-out force at the time of the attachment and detachment of an ink cartridge even when the ink cartridge and a recording head are connected by inserting two or more sets of supply ports and supply pipes and to achieve the miniaturization and wt. reduction of the recording apparatus and the keeping of recording image quality. CONSTITUTION:The insertion start period of at least one set of the supply port 3 and the supply pipe 2 among the respective supply ports 3 of an ink cartridge 4 and the respective supply pipes 2 of a recording head is made different from the insertion start period of the other set of them by differentiating the heights of the respective supply pipes 2 or the positions of the respective supply ports 3.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means onto a recording material, and more particularly to an ink supply system of the recording apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A recording device having functions such as a printer, a copying machine and a facsimile, or a recording device used as an output device of a multifunction machine or a workstation including a computer, a word processor, etc., is a sheet or a plastic thin plate based on image information. Images (including characters and symbols) on recording materials (recording media) such as (sheets for OHP)
Is configured to record. The recording device can be classified into an ink jet type, a wire dot type, a heat sensitive type, a thermal transfer type, a laser beam type and the like depending on the recording system of the recording means used.

In a serial type recording apparatus which employs a recording system in which a main scanning is performed in a direction intersecting a conveying direction (sub-scanning direction) of a recording material, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position and then the recording material is set. An image (including characters, symbols, etc.) is recorded by a recording unit (recording head) mounted on a carriage that moves (main scanning) along, and after one line of recording is completed, a predetermined amount of paper is fed (sub-scan). An image is recorded in a desired range of the recording material by repeating the operation of performing (scanning) and then recording (main scanning) the image of the next row. On the other hand, in a line type recording apparatus that records a recording material only in the sub-scanning direction in which the recording material is fed in the transport direction, the recording material is set at a predetermined recording position, and one line of recording is continuously performed at one time. A predetermined amount of paper feed (pitch feed) is performed, and an image is recorded on the entire recording material.

Among them, the ink jet type (ink jet recording apparatus) is a means for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means (recording head) onto a recording material, and it is easy to make the recording means compact and high definition. Images can be recorded at high speed, plain paper can be recorded without requiring special processing, running costs are low, and the non-impact method reduces noise and uses multicolor inks. Therefore, it has an advantage that it is easy to record a color image. Above all, a line type recording apparatus using a line type recording means in which a large number of ejection ports are arranged in the paper width direction can further speed up recording.

In particular, an ink jet type recording means (recording head) for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy,
Through the semiconductor manufacturing process such as etching, vapor deposition, and sputtering, the electrothermal converter formed on the substrate, the electrode,
By forming the liquid passage wall, the top plate, and the like, it is possible to easily manufacture a liquid discharge device having a high-density liquid passage arrangement (ejection port arrangement), and to further reduce the size. Further, by utilizing the advantages of IC technology and micro processing technology, it is easy to make the recording means long and planar (two-dimensional), and it is also easy to make the recording means full-multi and high-density mounting. is there. On the other hand, there are various requirements for the material of the recording material, and in recent years, in addition to the ordinary recording material such as paper and resin thin plate, thin paper and processed paper (paper with punch holes for filing and perforation). Paper, paper of any shape, etc.)
It has been required to use such as.

In the above ink jet recording apparatus,
A color recording apparatus using an integrated ink cartridge in which a plurality of different color inks (yellow, magenta, and cyan) are held in one cartridge has been proposed. Usually, the ink cartridge is provided with an ink supply port for each color, and the recording head side is provided with an ink supply pipe (supply needle) communicating with each ejection port group for each color. By inserting the ink into the corresponding supply port, the recording head and the ink cartridge are connected so that ink can be supplied.

[0007]

However, as in the prior art, it is used in a system in which a plurality of supply ports of an ink cartridge and a plurality of supply pipes (supply needles) corresponding thereto are simultaneously inserted and communicated with each other. When a person mounts the ink cartridge, since each supply pipe is simultaneously inserted into each supply port for each color, the mounting force may suddenly become heavy, and an unreasonable load may act on the carriage, guide rails, and the like. . Further, even when the ink cartridge is removed, there is a problem that the pulling force suddenly becomes light and the handleability is poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above prior art, and an object of the present invention is to connect an ink cartridge and a recording means by inserting and connecting a plurality of sets of supply ports and supply pipes. It is possible to prevent a sudden change in the insertion / removal force when the ink cartridge is attached / detached, prevent an unreasonable load from acting on the carriage, the guide rail, the frame, etc., improve the handleability, and reduce the size and weight of the recording device. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet recording device capable of maintaining the recording image quality.

[0009]

According to the present invention, at least one set of insertion / removal (removal) of an ink supply pipe and an ink supply port is performed.
By differentiating the insertion start timing in the direction from the insertion start timing of the other groups, the force at the time of inserting / removing the ink cartridge is dispersed, and the change in the attachment / detachment force of the ink cartridge is made smooth (gradual).

According to a first aspect of the invention, in an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a recording means to which a plurality of supply pipes are connected and an ink cartridge having a plurality of supply ports. When inserting each of the supply ports and each of the supply pipes for connection with each other, the insertion start time of at least one set of supply ports and the supply pipes is different from the insertion start time of the other set. To achieve.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3, in addition to the structure of claim 1, at least one of the supply pipes has a tip position in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction which is the tip position of another supply pipe in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction. The above object can be achieved more efficiently by using a different configuration, or at least one position of the supply port in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction different from the position of the other supply port in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, 1
Individual recording means (inkjet head = recording head) 1
The two ink cartridges 4 and 5 are positioned and fixed on the carriage 7. The carriage 7 is guided and supported by two parallel guide shafts 10 and 11 so as to be capable of reciprocating along a recording material (recording paper or the like) 6 in the direction of a double arrow 14. The ink cartridge 4 is a color cartridge, and three ink tanks that store inks of respective colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan are stored in the ink cartridge 4. Further, the ink cartridge 5 is a black cartridge, and an ink tank for black ink is housed therein.

In this case, the ejection opening surface of the recording head 1 (the front surface on which the ejection openings are arranged) moves while maintaining a space (clearance) of about 1 mm from the recording material 6. A lead screw 9 is rotatably supported in parallel with the guide shafts 10 and 11, and a pin or a projection provided on the carriage 7 is engaged with a lead groove of the lead screw 9 and Is driven by a motor (not shown) for forward and reverse rotation, and the carriage 7 reciprocates in synchronization with this.

In FIG. 1, the recording material 6 is nipped by a paper feed roller 8 and a pinch roller (not shown), and is fed (conveyed) in the direction of arrow 15. Further, the recording material 6 is sandwiched between the paper ejection roller 12 and the spur 16, tension is applied between the paper ejection roller 12 and the paper feed roller 8, and the recording material 6 is held flat. The recording head (recording means)
1 is capable of color recording. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the ejection port surface 81 of the recording head 1 has ejection port group 21Y ejecting yellow ink, ejection port group 21M ejecting magenta ink, and ejection port ejecting cyan ink. The four ejection port groups including the group 21C and the ejection port group 21Bk for ejecting black ink are arranged on a straight line in the paper feeding direction.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the structure of the essential parts of a first embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In FIG. 2, 1 is an inkjet head (recording head) that ejects ink in response to a recording signal, 2 is an ink supply pipe provided so as to communicate with the recording head 1, and 3 is provided in ink cartridges 4 and 5. Ink supply ports 4, 4 are color ink cartridges in which a plurality of colors of ink are stored, and 5 are black ink cartridges in which black ink is stored.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the detailed structure of the recording head 1. 2 and 3, a plurality of ejection port groups 21 ejecting different kinds of ink, for example, a yellow ejection port group 21Y and a magenta ejection port group are provided on the ejection port surface (front surface) 81 of the recording head 1. 21M, a discharge port group 21C for cyan, and a discharge port group 21Bk for black are provided. Each of these ejection port groups 21 is composed of a plurality of ejection ports 82 arranged in the paper feed direction, and
These plural (four) ejection port groups 21Y to 21Bk are arranged on a straight line in the paper feeding direction.

In FIG. 3, the yellow discharge port group 21
Each of the Y and magenta ejection port groups 21M and the cyan ejection port group 21C is formed of 24 ejection ports, and the black ejection port group 21Bk is formed of 64 ejection ports. Then, a plurality of ejection openings (a plurality of pitches) are provided between the ejection openings of each color. For example, an interval of 8 ejection ports (8 pitches) is provided between each color ejection port group, and an interval of 16 ejection ports is provided between the cyan ejection port group 21C and the black ejection port group 21Bk. Is provided.

The recording head 1 is an ink jet recording means for ejecting ink by utilizing heat energy, and is provided with an electrothermal converter for generating heat energy. Further, the recording head 1 performs recording by ejecting ink from an ejection port by utilizing a pressure change caused by growth and contraction of bubbles due to film boiling caused by thermal energy applied by the electrothermal converter. Is.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of the ink ejection portion of an arbitrary ejection port group in the recording head 1. In FIG. 4, the ejection port surface 81 that faces the recording material (recording paper or the like) 6 with a predetermined gap (for example, about 0.5 to 2.0 mm) ejects a plurality of ejections at a predetermined pitch. An electrothermal converter (heat-generating resistor, etc.) 8 for forming energy for ink ejection along the wall surface of each liquid passage 84 which has an outlet 82 and connects the common liquid chamber 83 and each ejection port 82.
5 are provided. The plurality of ejection ports 82 are arranged in such a positional relationship that they are arranged in a direction intersecting the moving direction (main scanning direction) of the recording head 1. In this manner, the corresponding electrothermal converter 85 is driven (energized) based on the image signal or the ejection signal to cause the ink in the liquid passage 84 to film-boil, and the pressure generated at that time causes the ink to be ejected from the ejection port 82. A discharge port group 21 is configured.

The electro-thermal converters 85 for generating thermal energy used for ejecting ink droplets from the respective ejection ports 82 and electric power are supplied to the ink liquid passages 84 corresponding to the respective ejection ports 82. The electrode wiring for this is provided. These electrothermal converters 85 and electrode wirings are formed by a film forming technique on a substrate made of silicon or the like. Further, the ejection port 82 and the ink liquid passage 8 are formed by stacking a partition wall made of resin or glass, a top plate, etc. on the substrate.
4. A common liquid chamber 83 is formed. Further to the rear,
Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a drive circuit for driving the electrothermal converter 85 based on the recording signal is provided in the form of the printed board 22. The silicon substrate and the printed circuit board 22 are fixed on the same aluminum plate 23.

2 and 3, in the present embodiment,
As replaceable ink cartridges for storing various inks supplied to the recording head 1, a color (yellow, magenta, cyan) ink cartridge 4 and a black ink cartridge 5 are prepared. There is. These ink cartridges 4 and 5 are inserted substantially parallel to the aluminum plate 23, and are connected to the ink supply pipe 2 which also protrudes parallel to the aluminum plate 23.

The ink supply pipe 2 protrudes from a distributor 24 made of a plastic member that extends in a direction perpendicular to the silicon substrate, and further communicates with an ink liquid passage 25 inside the distributor 24. The liquid passage 25 communicates with the common liquid chamber 83. On the other hand, inside the color ink cartridge 4, a total of three ink tanks for storing the inks of yellow, magenta and cyan are stored. In addition, an ink tank that stores black ink is housed inside the black ink cartridge 5.

2 and 3, in the present embodiment,
As the ink liquid passages 25 in the distributor 24, a total of four liquid passages, that is, a yellow liquid passage, a magenta liquid passage, a cyan liquid passage, and a black liquid passage are formed as shown in the figure. . Also, as the common liquid chamber 83,
There are four common liquid chambers for yellow, magenta, cyan and black. Therefore, one end of each of the four ink liquid passages 25 communicates with the common liquid chamber 83 of the corresponding color in the recording head 1.

Further, as the ink supply pipe 2 protruding from the distributor 24, a total of four ink supply pipes for yellow, magenta, cyan and black are provided, and the ink liquid path 25 and these ink supply pipes 25 are provided. The corresponding ink supply pipes 2 are connected to communicate with each other. In this embodiment, the color ink cartridge 4 and the black ink cartridge 5 are used.
Are arranged on both sides of the aluminum plate 23, so that the ink supply pipes 2 are also colored (Y, M,
It is divided into three for C) and one for black.

2 and 3, each color (Y, Y
3 for removing ink from M, C) ink tanks
Individual ink supply ports 3 are provided. Further, the black ink cartridge 5 is provided with one ink supply port 3 for taking out black ink. The color ink cartridge 4 is mounted by inserting the cartridge 4 and inserting the three ink supply pipes 2 of the corresponding colors into the (three) ink supply ports 3 of the respective colors. . The mounting of the black ink cartridge 5 is also performed by inserting the ink supply pipe 2 corresponding to the ink supply port 3.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the recording means 1 to which a plurality of supply pipes 2 are connected and the ink cartridge 4 having a plurality of supply ports 3 are inserted into the respective supply ports 3 and the respective supply pipes 2. At the time of connection, the insertion start timing of at least one set of supply port and supply pipe is configured to be different from the insertion start timing of another set. And
In this embodiment, at least one ink supply pipe 2 has a tip position in the attachment / detachment direction of the ink cartridge 4 different from the tip position of another ink supply pipe in the attachment / detachment direction of the ink cartridge 4, that is, at least one ink supply pipe 2. Is configured so that its length is different from the others.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, the three color ink supply pipes 2 fixed in the vertical direction with respect to the recording head 1 are arranged such that their lengths become shorter toward the lower side. The length of each is changed. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an operation when the ink cartridge 4 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is mounted. In FIG. 5, when the ink cartridge 4 is mounted, as shown in (A), first, the uppermost (yellow) ink supply pipe 2
Is inserted into the yellow ink supply port 3, then the middle (magenta) ink supply pipe 2 is inserted into the ink supply port 3 as shown in (B), and finally the bottom (cyan) ink supply pipe. 2 is inserted into the ink supply port 3.

In this case, the ink supply port 3 is made of, for example, chlorinated butyl rubber, and due to its elasticity, the ink does not leak even if the ink supply pipe 2 is inserted or removed. In this way, since the plurality of ink supply pipes 2 are sequentially inserted, the insertion force when inserting the ink cartridge 4 does not suddenly increase. Moreover, the removal force does not suddenly decrease when detaching. That is, FIG.
In the state of (A) of FIG. 5, only the load of inserting and removing one set of the ink supply pipe 2 and the ink supply port 3 acts, and the next (B) of FIG.
Then, the load at the time of attachment / detachment is gradually increased so that the insertion / removal force for two sets, and further for three sets in FIG.

Therefore, an excessive load does not act on the carriage 7, the guide shafts 10 and 11, and the like.
The carriage 7 and the like will not be forced. Therefore, the guide shafts 10 and 11 that guide and support the carriage 7 or the frame member that supports these will not be deformed. Further, the structure on the carriage 7 can be simplified, and the size and weight of the carriage can be reduced.
The light weight of the carriage 7 facilitates the driving of the carriage, and thereby the recording image quality can be improved.

Although the ink supply pipes 2 having the same outer diameter are used in the above-described embodiments, the outer diameters may be different. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example in which the first embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 is partially modified. That is, in the configuration of FIG. 2 and FIG.
The ink supply pipe 2 is directly connected to the above (more specifically, to the distributor 24), but instead of this, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of (four) flexible ink tubes 26 for each type of ink are connected to the recording head 1, and an ink supply pipe 2 for each type of ink is provided on the apparatus main body side. The ink tube 26 may be configured to crawl from the recording head 1 to the apparatus main body side and be connected to the corresponding ink supply pipe 2.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing the essential structure of the second embodiment of the ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In the above-described first embodiment, at least one ink supply pipe 2 has a tip position in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction different from that of another ink supply pipe in the same direction.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the three ink supply pipes 2 are configured so that the length thereof becomes shorter (or longer) in sequence, but in the present embodiment, at least one ink supply port 3 has ink. The position in the cartridge attachment / detachment direction is configured to be different from the position in the same direction of the other supply ports 3, and this embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in this respect, and is substantially different in other points. They have the same structure.

In FIG. 7, a step is provided on the front end surface of the color ink cartridge 4 in the insertion direction so that the positions of the (three) ink supply ports 3 of the respective colors in the ink cartridge insertion / extraction direction are sequentially different. . In this case, the heights of the corresponding ink supply pipes 2 (the positions of the tips in the ink cartridge inserting / removing direction) are the same. According to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, as in the case of the first embodiment described above,
When inserting and withdrawing the plurality of ink supply pipes 2 and the plurality of ink supply ports 3 for attachment and detachment, it is possible to prevent a rapid change in the insertion / removal force, and an excessive load is applied to the carriage 7 and the guide shafts 10 and 11. The present invention is provided by an inkjet recording apparatus which can prevent the operation, and can improve the recording image quality by reducing the size and weight of the carriage 7 and reducing the carriage load.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing the structure of the essential parts of a third embodiment of an ink jet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied. In this embodiment, the ink cartridge 4 is provided with the hook portion 27, and the ink supply pipe 2 side (recording head 1
The side) is provided with a fulcrum 28 for hanging the hook 27. Each ink supply port 3 of the ink cartridge 4 is configured to be inserted into and removed from each ink supply pipe 2 while rotating the ink cartridge about the fulcrum 28. In that case, the heights of the ink supply pipes 2 may be the same, and the positions of the ink supply ports 3 in the insertion / removal direction may be the same. This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in the above points, but has substantially the same configuration in other points.

According to the third embodiment of FIG. 8, when the ink cartridge 4 is connected to the recording head 1, the ink cartridge is rotated around the fulcrum 28, so that the height of each ink supply pipe 2 and Even if the positions of the ink supply ports 3 are the same, the insertion start timing and the removal timing of the ink supply pipes 2 and the ink supply ports 3 of each set can be made different (shifted) sequentially, so that the first embodiment described above is performed. As in the case of the example, it is possible to eliminate a sudden change in the insertion / extraction force when the ink cartridge 4 is attached / detached, and thus it is possible to prevent an excessive load from acting on the carriage 7, the guide shafts 10 and 11, and the like. 7 is an inkjet recording apparatus capable of improving recording image quality by reducing the size and weight and reducing the carriage load. In addition,
In the embodiment of FIG. 8, each ink supply pipe 2 may be bent in an arc shape so that it can be easily inserted and removed by turning.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the case of the serial recording method in which the recording means (recording head) is moved in the main scanning direction has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to the full width or one width of the recording material. Even in the case of a line recording method for recording only by sub-scanning using a line recording means having a length that covers a portion,
The same can be applied and the same effect can be achieved. Further, the present invention can be similarly applied to a color recording apparatus for recording with different colors, a gradation recording apparatus using inks of the same color and different densities, and a recording apparatus combining these. It is possible to achieve the same effect.

The present invention can be applied to an ink jet recording apparatus using a recording means (recording head) using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, but among others, thermal energy is used. Then, an excellent effect is brought about in an ink jet recording apparatus which uses a recording means of a method of ejecting ink. This is because such a system can achieve high density recording and high definition recording.

Regarding the typical structure and principle thereof, see, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4740.
This is preferably done using the basic principles disclosed in 796. This method can be applied to both the so-called on-demand type and the continuous type, but particularly in the case of the on-demand type, a liquid (ink) is used.
By applying at least one drive signal to the electrothermal converter arranged corresponding to the sheet or liquid path in which is stored, which corresponds to the recorded information and causes a rapid temperature rise exceeding nucleate boiling. , Generates heat energy in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat acting surface of the recording means (recording head), and as a result, bubbles can be formed in the liquid (ink) in a one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal. So effective.

The liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet. It is more preferable to make the driving signal into a pulse shape because bubbles can be grown and contracted immediately and appropriately, and thus a liquid (ink) with excellent responsiveness can be ejected. As this pulse-shaped drive signal, US Pat.
Those described in US Pat. Nos. 4,633,359 and 4,345,262 are suitable. Incidentally, US Pat. No. 43131 of the invention relating to the rate of temperature rise of the heat acting surface.
If the conditions described in the specification of No. 24 are adopted, more excellent recording can be performed.

As the constitution of the recording head, in addition to the combination constitution of the ejection port, the liquid passage, and the electrothermal converter (the linear liquid passage or the right-angled liquid passage) as disclosed in the above-mentioned respective specifications. US Pat. No. 4,558,333, US Pat. No. 4,558,333, which discloses a configuration in which a heat acting portion is arranged in a bending region.
A configuration using the specification of No. 459600 is also included in the present invention. In addition, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 123670/1984 discloses a configuration in which a common slit is used as a discharge portion of the electrothermal converter for a plurality of electrothermal converters, and an opening for absorbing a pressure wave of thermal energy. The present invention is also effective as a structure based on Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 138461/1984, which discloses a structure in which the discharge section is associated with the discharge section. That is, according to the present invention, recording can be reliably and efficiently performed regardless of the form of the recording head.

Further, as described above, the present invention can be effectively applied to a full line type recording head having a length corresponding to the maximum width of a recording material (recording medium) which can be recorded by the recording apparatus. . As such a recording head,
Either a structure that satisfies the length by combining a plurality of recording heads or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used. In addition, even with the serial type as in the above example, the recording head fixed to the device main body,
Alternatively, a replaceable chip-type recording head that can be electrically connected to the device body and supply ink from the device body when mounted on the device body, or an ink tank is integrally provided on the recording head itself. The present invention is also effective when the cartridge type recording head described above is used.

Further, it is preferable to add recovery means or preliminary auxiliary means to the recording head provided as a constitution of the recording apparatus in the present invention because the effect of the present invention can be further stabilized. Specifically, in addition to the above-mentioned capping means, cleaning means, and suction recovery means for the recording head, a pressure-type recovery means, an electrothermal converter, or a heating other than this. It is also effective to perform stable recording by performing a preliminary heating means using an element or a combination thereof and a preliminary ejection mode for performing ejection different from recording.

As described above, regarding the type and number of recording heads to be mounted, for example, only one is provided corresponding to a single color ink, or a plurality of recording heads having different recording colors and densities are provided. A plurality of inks may be provided corresponding to the ink. That is, for example, the recording mode of the recording apparatus is not limited to the recording mode of only the mainstream color such as black, but may be either the recording head is integrally configured or a combination of a plurality of recording heads may be used. The present invention is extremely effective for an apparatus provided with at least one of color colors or full colors by color mixing.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments of the present invention, the ink is described as a liquid, but it is an ink that solidifies at room temperature or lower and softens or liquefies at room temperature, or an ink jet. In the method, the temperature of the ink itself is generally adjusted within a range of 30 ° C. or higher and 70 ° C. or lower to control the temperature of the ink so that the viscosity of the ink is within a stable ejection range. It may be in a liquid form. in addition,
To prevent the temperature rise due to the thermal energy from being positively used as the energy for changing the state of the ink from the solid state to the liquid state, or to use the ink that solidifies in the standing state for the purpose of preventing ink evaporation. In any case, the ink is liquefied by applying the thermal energy according to the recording signal and the liquid ink is ejected,
The present invention is also applicable to the case of using an ink that has a property of being liquefied only by thermal energy, such as one that has already started to solidify when it reaches the recording medium.

The ink in such a case is disclosed in JP-A-54-54.
As described in JP-A-56847 or JP-A-60-71260, a form in which the electrothermal converter is opposed to a liquid sheet or a solid material held in the recesses or through holes of the porous sheet. May be In the present invention, the most effective one for each of the above-mentioned inks is to execute the above-mentioned film boiling method.

In addition, as the form of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention, in addition to the one used as an image output terminal of information processing equipment such as a computer, a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and a facsimile apparatus having a transmitting / receiving function. And the like may be used.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from the recording means to the recording material, a plurality of supply pipes are connected. When connecting the recording means and the ink cartridge having a plurality of supply ports by inserting the supply ports and the supply pipes, at least one set of the supply ports and the supply pipes starts to be inserted in the other set. Since the configuration is different from that at the time, even when the ink cartridge and the recording unit are connected by inserting and connecting a plurality of sets of supply ports and supply pipes, the insertion / removal force when the ink cartridge is attached / detached is dispersed to rapidly It is possible to prevent the load from changing undesirably, and to prevent an unreasonable load from acting on the carriage, guide rail, frame, etc. Together with the upper ink jet recording apparatus is provided which can reduce the maintenance of the reduction in size and weight and recording quality of the recording apparatus.

According to the inventions of claims 2 and 3,
In addition to the configuration of claim 1, at least one supply pipe has a tip position in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction different from that of another supply pipe in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction, or at least one supply port ink cartridge attachment / detachment Since the position in the direction is different from the position in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction of the other supply port, it is more efficient,
By dispersing the insertion / extraction force when attaching / detaching the ink cartridge, it is possible to prevent the insertion / extraction force from changing abruptly, and it is possible to prevent an unreasonable load from acting on the carriage, the guide rails, the frame, etc.
(EN) Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus capable of reducing the size and weight of a recording apparatus and maintaining recording image quality.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a configuration example of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the detailed structure of the recording head in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view schematically showing the structure of an ink ejection portion of the recording head of FIG.

5 is a schematic perspective view showing an operation when the ink cartridge of FIG. 2 is mounted.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view showing a configuration example in which the first embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 is partially modified.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a main configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view showing a main part configuration of a third embodiment of an inkjet recording apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Recording Means (Recording Head) 2 Ink Supply Pipe 3 Ink Supply Port 4 Color Ink Cartridge 5 Black Ink Cartridge 6 Recording Material 7 Carriage 8 Paper Feed Roller 9 Lead Screw 10 Guide Shaft 11 Guide Shaft 14 Carriage Moving Direction 15 arrow indicating the paper feeding direction 21 discharge port group for each ink 24 distributor 25 ink liquid path 26 ink tube 28 fulcrum 81 discharge port surface 82 discharge port 83 common liquid chamber 84 liquid path 85 electrothermal converter

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In an ink jet recording apparatus for recording by ejecting ink from a recording means to a recording material, a recording means to which a plurality of supply pipes are connected and an ink cartridge having a plurality of supply ports are provided for each supply port. An ink jet recording apparatus, wherein the insertion start time of at least one set of supply port and the supply pipe is different from the insertion start time of the other set when inserting and connecting the supply pipe and each supply pipe. 2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tip position of at least one supply pipe in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction is different from the tip position of another supply pipe in the ink cartridge attachment / detachment direction. 3. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position of at least one supply port in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction is different from the position of the other supply port in the ink cartridge attaching / detaching direction. 4. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means is an inkjet recording means including an electrothermal converter that generates thermal energy used for ejecting ink. 5. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the recording means ejects the ink from the ejection port by utilizing film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy generated by the electrothermal converter. .